To support The Patriotic Clippers, send a check made out to Portsmouth High School — Special Olympics to 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801. For details, visit ...

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To support The Patriotic Clippers, send a check made out to Portsmouth High School — Special Olympics to 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801. For details, visit Special Olympics New Hampshire.

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PORTSMOUTH — How far are you willing to go for a good cause?

If Portsmouth High School students raise $5,000 to support the third annual High School Penguin Plunge to be held Saturday, Feb. 5, at Hampton Beach to benefit Special Olympics New Hampshire, more than six staff members will shave their beards — and possibly go even further.

Head custodian Arthur Ashley has challenged students to raise money for the event by offering to let the student who raises the most shave his head.

"It's a good bunch of kids here, and I wanted to get involved with them and give them the challenge," Ashley said. "We're a school, but we're more like a family here. It's a special place to be, and I'd like to see the public get more involved with all the positive things that happen here."

One of those positive experiences is the High School Penguin Plunge, in which PHS has participated yearly. Staff and students have also participated in the original Penguin Plunge, which is open to all ages and held in Hampton the following day. Both events benefit Special Olympics

For this year's Super Heroes theme at the High School Penguin Plunge, the Patriotic Clippers team is focusing on red, white and blue, said construction trades teacher Dexter Robblee. The first year of the high school event, Robblee and two students participated, while last year five staff members and more than 20 students joined. This year, he said, interest is even higher.

"There's been a great deal of enthusiasm," he said, adding that student groups Friends of Rachel and Amigos will be helping to raise funds, some jumping.

"I barely jump in the water in the summer," said PHS student Joslyn Mulkern, who is a volunteer with Special Olympics. "But this is helping the kids who may not be able to be involved without this event."

Bryan Rogers, program coordinator for the PHS team, said the event is the organization's biggest fund-raiser. Money raised supports athlete tournament fees, uniforms and other expenses for Special Olympics participants, he said.

"It's probably the best event they put on. Everybody who does it has a blast," he said.

Science teacher Will McElroy, who made the icy leap last year, said it brings a sense of camaraderie between staff and students.

"There's so much school spirit. It's a tight-knit group," he said. "It's cool to be an equal for a day. We're all there for the same reason."

It's that school spirit that Ashley is channeling to urge the faculty to go one step further. When Principal Jeff Collins and other volunteered to shave their beards, Ashley said, "you guys can't do anything better than this?"

"Let's step up to the plate. I'll step up to the plate," Ashley said. "If they can raise $5,000 to go to a worthy cause, and if I lose a little hair for this organization, I'll do it again. They can paint an 8-ball on the back of my head, I don't care."

Robblee said he's working on the other faculty to shave their heads, but enthusiasm is lacking. If Robblee and the other staff shave their heads, as well as their beards, food service manager Linda Ball has offered to shave her head, too.

"Negotiations are ongoing," said science teacher Jay Martineau.

"PHS is part of the Seacoast community, we are Clipper Nation and this is the most extraordinary community on the entire planet," Robblee said. "The people here are the most wonderful, giving group."

To support The Patriotic Clippers, send a check made out to Portsmouth High School — Special Olympics to 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801. For details, visit Special Olympics New Hampshire.